The State of Maine seeks public input to inform its Rural Health Transformation Program plan and application. The State is committed to pursuing an expeditious approach that directs these time-limited funds to areas that improve the health of rural communities through innovation and collaboration.
Public comments through the form below will be accepted through October 1, 2025.
Background: The State plans to apply for newly available funding from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The RHTP was created within the federal budget reconciliation bill, H.R. 1 (Section 71401 of Public Law 119-21) which was signed into law on July 4, 2025 and makes significant cuts to Medicaid.
If awarded funding through RHTP, Maine anticipates receiving an estimated $500 million, amounting to $100 million a year over five years. States may also receive competitive discretionary funding above that amount. Funding for RHTP is temporary and one-time and must be used within the specified time period.
Federal goals:
The federal government has identified the following five strategic goals for the Rural Health Transformation Program:
- Make rural America healthy again: Support rural health innovations and new access points to promote preventative health and address root causes of diseases. Projects will use evidence-based, outcomes-driven interventions to improve disease prevention, chronic disease management, behavioral health, and prenatal care.
- Sustainable access: Help rural providers become long-term access points for care by improving efficiency and sustainability. With RHTP support, rural facilities work together--or with high-quality regional systems--to share or coordinate operations, technology, primary and specialty care, and emergency services.
- Workforce development: Attract and retain a high-skilled health care workforce by strengthening recruitment and retention of healthcare providers in rural communities. Help rural providers practice at the top of their license and develop a broader set of providers to serve a rural community's needs, such as community health workers, pharmacists, and individuals trained to help patients navigate the healthcare system.
- Innovative care: Spark the growth of innovative care models to improve health outcomes, coordinate care, and promote flexible care arrangements. Develop and implement payment mechanisms incentivizing providers or Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to reduce health care costs, improve quality of care, and shift care to lower cost settings.
- Technology innovation: Foster use of innovative technologies that promote efficient care delivery, data security, and access to digital health tools by rural facilities, providers, and patients. Projects support access to remote care, improve data sharing, strengthen cybersecurity, and invest in emerging technologies.
Additional details on the program, including allowable uses of funds, are available on the federal CMS program website.
Access
If you need help accessing this form, contact the ADA/Civil Rights Coordinator at Maine DHHS at 207-287-5014 or ADA-Civilrights.dhhs@maine.gov.